Re: cannot activate font-lock-mode

[martin rudalics]

> # Local Variables:
> # mode: indented-text
> # fill-column: 95
> # mode: font-lock
> # font-lock-keywords : ("^\\s-*:0" "##+")
> # End:
>
> Now, when desktop.el loads it, it asks if I want to apply the
> font-lock-keywords customisation, because it is risky (is it?).

The question is asked by `hack-local-variables-confirm'.

> I
> answer y, but I get the message:
>  Toggling font-lock-mode off; better pass an explicit argument.

This is done in `hack-one-local-variable' where

             (funcall mode)

simply executes `font-lock-mode' which toggles font-lock mode off since
it does not get an argument.

> and font lock is apparently inactive, as I see no colours.  If I toggle
> it, it says
>  Font-Lock mode disabled
> I then again do M-x font-lock-mode RET, and it says
>  Font-Lock mode enabled
> but I still see no colours.

Look at the value of `font-lock-keywords' in this buffer - it's probably
(t nil).  You should modify this either by setting `font-lock-defaults'
or via `font-lock-add-keywords' or `font-lock-remove-keywords'.